Lorntz Espe (1856-1951) and Beret Moksnes (1854-1932) were married on February 28, 1879, in Stjørdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. Their Marriage Record is a photocopy of a page from the Church Marriage Records from the Værnes Kirke in Stjørdal. It includes the date of their marriage, their names, place of residence, their year of birth, and the name of their fathers, bondsmen’s names and addresses, and dates of banns (3 dates when the upcoming marriage was announced or published by the church).
Lorntz (Lorentz) Ingebrigtsen Espe, son of Ingebrigt Larsen Espe and Ingeborg Pederdatter, was born on March 8, 1856 in Norway. In 1847, his father had rented a place called Setnanhaug, in the community of Lånke, just south of Stjørdal. It is likely that Lorntz was born there. Stjørdal (the nearest town) is located about 26 miles east of the center of Trondheim. His Birth Record is a photocopy of the church record of births and baptisms that includes him. (see line 65)
In 1860, when Lorntz was four years old, he moved with his parents and four siblings about 10 miles south, to a farm named Søre Espet, just north of Selbu, Norway. His father was a tailor and sheepskin maker. While living at Espet, six more children were added to the family. Tragically, his 56 year old mother, Ingeborg, died in 1877. Soon after her death, they moved to THIS LOCATION in Stjørdal. Ingebrigt had bought or rented a husmansplass – a small cottage, often without property rights – which was part of a larger farm named Øyan. (In 1883 his father married Mette Halvorsdatter Sætran and they had an additional 8 children – yes, that’s 19 children for Ingebrigt, who died in 1906).
However, before his father had married Mette, Lorntz had also found a wife of his own, Beret Marta Moksnes.
Beret Marta Moksnes, was born on May 23, 1854 in Stjørdal, Norway. She was the daughter of Lorentz Olsen and Marit Christiansdatter, an unmarried couple. Her Birth Record is from the Værnes Church record book of Births and Baptisms. Her Confirmation Record is from the same church
As written above, Lorntz and Beret were married in 1879, about 5 months after their first daughter, Ingeborg, was born. They continued to live in Stjørdal. for a while.
By 1883, however, they had moved across the border into Sweden. This Census Record is from the Handöl, Jämtland, Sweden, Household Examination Books. It lists Lorntz and Beret and their two oldest children Ingeborg and Evan (Ivan Marius). It also says that Evan was born there in Sweden in 1883 – specifically in the Öre Parish at Handöl. The small community of Handöl is about 58 miles east of Stjørdal, and was known for its soapstone mining operations. So it is likely that Lorntz found employment there.
By 1888 they had moved back to Stjørdal, Norway, We know this because their third child, Peter (Peder), was born there in 1888. And on Peter’s church birth record, his father, Lorntz’s occupation was that of a carpenter. This occupation did not last very long, though.
In 1889 Lorntz left Norway to look for a better place to live – he emigrated to America. His Naturalization Document is dated October 28, 1890 in Minnesota, starting the process for him to become a legal citizen of the United States of America.
In 1890, Beret also left Norway, traveling with her children, Ingeborg, Evan, and Peter, as well as her sister-in-law, Marit Espe. Their first destination was likey Hull, England, where they would have taken a train to Liverpool, England. This page of the Ship Passenger List is from the S/S Alaska, a ship that traveled from Liverpool on June 13th, 1890, and landed in New York, New York, on July 2nd, 1890. Peter often said “I was two years on the sea”. But he actually had his 2nd birthday on the day the ship left England. It would be nice to think they celebrated his birthday throughout the voyage, but it is more likely they spent those 20 days trying to avoid vomiting, since the tiny quarters for 3rd class passengers were reportedly very difficult to live in. One description being of “a sleeping compartment about fourteen feet by twelve feet long and eight high. The space inside would be very cramped, with often only a narrow alley between the bunks for one person to walk along at any one time, with no space for passing. This would house twenty four persons, each having a berth about two feet wide. Darkness, dampness and stale air would be common place. The smell of vomit and unemptied chamber pots, restricted movement and lack of sunlight would have added to the feeling of claustrophobia. Seasickness, lack of privacy and inadequate food made for a miserable voyage”.
The family was reunited In Minnesota. Lorntz Espe (with various misspellings of his name) is listed in Minneapolis, Minnesota City Directories for the years 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1895. His occupation was listed as a laborer or teamster, residing in north Minneapolis at about 50th or 51st street and 2nd or Lyndale Avenue, in what was known as the Camden area. Their son Peter told stories about going to elementary school there, and in the late 1970s he visited a classmate from his first grade in school who had lived in Camden his entire life.
Mary Espe, their youngest child was born in Minneapolis in 1893. The family is listed in this page of the 1895 Minnesota State Census, living in the 10th Ward, at 50th and Aldrich in Minneapolis. Their last child, Bessie, was born there in 1896.
Lorntz and Beret had a total of 5 children. Ingeborg AKA Belle (1878-1969) was born in Stjørdal, Norway, Evan (1883-1963) was born in Handöl, Sweden, and Peter (1888-1979) was also born in Stjørdal, Norway. Mary (1893-1979) and Bessie (1896-1979) were both born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. after their parents had emigrated.
Some time between 1896 and 1900 the family made a transition from city living to rural living, moving to Faribault County in southern Minnesota. The 1900 US Census lists them in the village of Bricelyn, in Seely Township, Faribault County. The record lists Lorentz as a farmer, Evan as a farm laborer, and Peter as being “at school”. But it does not include Ingeborg (Belle). She had likely moved out of her parental home by then. She married John J. Sannan in 1901, in Homedahl, MN, which was also in Faribault County.
The 1905 Minnesota State Census lists the family in Seely Township, Faribault County again. Lorntz is listed as a Farmer and both sons as Farm Laborers.
Their obituaries (below) both state that they moved to Roseau County in 1908. However, the 1910 US Census shows them living in Farley Township, Polk County, Minnesota. Farley Township is just to the southwest of Warren, MN. They are listed along with son, Evan, and daughter, Bessie. William and Mary Geroy and their daughter, Jennie, were also living in the same location. Mary had married William in Polk County in December of 1909.
But there is evidence that they were planning on living in Roseau County. This Land Patent Record, dated March 7, 1910, describes the location of the property that Lorntz homesteaded in Beaver township in Roseau County. This 1913 Map of Beaver Township shows that Lorntz and Evan owned adjacent quarters of land in Section 32.
In January of 1914 their youngest daughter, Bessie, married Heglund Grundfor in Roseau County. And in October of 1914, their oldest daughter, Ingeborg (Belle) married John Grundfor, some two years after her first husband, John Sannan died while they were living in Minneapolis. In September of 1916 their son, Peter, married Thilda Dahlgren in Roseau, County.
Lorntz must have needed to prove he was a US Citizen at some point, and obtained this SECOND PAPERS AND PROOF Document, dated July 2nd, 1919, that reveals he had previously presented to the clerk of court in 1901, in Faribault County, a document showing that he, Lorntz, had previously renounced all other allegiances in the U.S. District Court of Hennepin Co. Minn. Proof of his citizenship!
With Lorntz and Beret in their mid-sixties, the 1920 US Census reveals that their son, Evan, had become the Head of Household. They were living in Beaver Township. They also had a boarder, Archie Hendershot, living with them at the time of the census.
The 1930 US Census shows them at the same location. Evan is listed as the Head of Household again, and is a farmer of a “sheep ranch”. Lorntz’s occupation is “farm laborer”. This 1935 Map of Beaver township confirms that Evan owned the quarter of Section 32 that Lorntz had homesteaded.
Beret became ill in 1930 and never recovered. She died in 1932 at age 78. Her funeral service was at the Pine Grove Church and her burial was just outside the church at the Pine Grove Cemetery.
Lorntz carried on without Beret, but by 1940 he had moved in with Peter and Thilda, his son and daughter-in-law, who lived about a mile west of Lorntz’s homestead. The 1940 US Census shows him living with Peter and Thilda Espe, their son, Omer, his wife, Myrtle, and their two young sons.
The 1950 US Census shows that Peter and Thilda had moved off the farm (they were boarders in a house in Roseau that year), but Lorntz was still living with his grandson, Omer and his wife, Myrtle. And three more children had been added to their family.
After the census in 1950, Lorntz moved into the Home for the Aged in Spooner, Minnesota, the town where his daughter Ingeborg (Belle) was living. He was a patient in the Baudette Hospital in Baudette, Minnesota when he died on August 14, 1951 ,at the age of 95. His funeral service was at the Pine Grove Church, the church where he had been a founding member decades earlier. His burial was just outside the church at the Pine Grove Cemetery.
OBITUARIES
Last Rites Held for Lorentz Espe Friday
“Lorentz Espe, aged Pencer pioneer, who died at the Baudette Hospital, Thursday, August 14, at 6:30 p. m., was laid to rest in the Pine Grove Cemetery Friday afternoon. Funeral service was held in Pine Grove Church at 2 o’clock with Rev. Jacob Andreasen delivering the funeral sermon and officiating at the commitment. Many friends joined with the family in the last rites for a well beloved and respected gentleman. Floral offerings and memorials likewise were tokens of the place he had in the community.
Mr. Espe was 95 years, five months and six days old at the time of his death. He was born in Stordalen, Norway, March 8, 1856. On February 28, 1872, he married Miss Beret Martha Maksness of Stordalen, Norway. She died nineteen years ago.
The family came to America to Minneapolis in 1889 and lived there seven years. Their next home was at Bricelyn, where Mr. Espe engaged in farming for twelve years. In 1908 they moved to Roseau county and settled on a homestead in what was then known as the River community, and that became the family home. Mr. Espe left there a year ago to move to Spooner where he lived at the Home for the Aged up to the time he was admitted to the hospital.
He was a charter member of the Pine Grove congregation. Left to mourn his passing are three daughters and two sons, namely: Mrs. John Grundfor, Spooner; Evan Espe, Roseau; Pete Espe, Grand Forks; Mrs. Mary Geroy, Roseau, and Mrs. H. N Grundfor, Moorhead. Also living are seven grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.”
(from the Roseau Times Region newspaper, Roseau, Minnesota, 23-AUG-1951)
MRS. L, ESPE, BEAVER PIONEER, LAID TO REST
“Pine Grove Congregation Loses One of Charter Members and Faithful Worker.
Death came as a relief to Mrs. Lorntz Espe at the family home in Beaver township, Friday morning at 8 o’clock. She had no been in the best of health since two years back but it was last summer that the disease began making itself manifest by its pain. Death found her ready and waiting, satisfied that she was about to pass from this life to a better one.
Beret Martha Moxness was born in Stordalen, Trondhjem Norway, May 23, 1854. She was married in the old country to Lorntz. Espe, February 28, 1879. They came to America in 1900 living a number of years in Minneapolis and Faribault county. In 1908 the family came to Roseau county and took a homestead in Beaver township. That has since been the family home.
Mrs. Espe was a charter member of Pine Grove congregation and evinced much interest in its work. She was a kind soul and won for herself ties of true friendship and reward.
Surviving and mourning the loss of a dear wife and mother are the husband and the following sons and daughters: Mrs. J. Grundfor, River; Evan, at home; Peter, Malung; Mrs. Wm. Geroy, River, and Mrs. H. Grundfor, Moorhead. Eight grand children and two great grand children are also living.
Funeral, service took place on Monday. A short service was held at the home at 1:30 followed by public service at the Pine Grove church. Burial took place in the cemetery at the church. Rev. Casper B. Nervig preached the funeral sermon and committed the body to its last resting place. Helen and Margaret Gunderson assisted in the service by singing a duet. Pall bearers were five grandsons: Edwin Sannan, Allan Geroy, Raymond Geroy, Clayton Geroy and Omer Espe, and Malcolm Trach. The service at the home and at the church were attended by a large number of friends.“
(from the Roseau Times Region newspaper, Roseau, Minnesota 22-OCT-1932)
